Playhouse donations continue; theater close to its goal

Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 10:28 p.m.

Energy created from the launch two weeks ago of the "Save the Playhouse!" Facebook page is still going strong, with donations pouring in and a series of fundraising events planned.

The biggest development in the recent campaign to keep the Flat Rock Playhouse solvent is a $100,000 donation that will act as a matching grant for donations made after Nov. 29.

"It is so reaffirming that what we do is valuable and necessary for this community, for this region, and for the arts at large," said Playhouse Development Director Lynn Penny.

The donation, from a longtime supporter who wishes to remain anonymous, is one of many gifts large and small received by the cash-strapped nonprofit theater organization in the past two weeks.

The campaign has now received close to $200,000. Fundraising concerts in Flat Rock will help add to that, and include a special show featuring performer and songwriter Jim Lauderdale on Thursday and then a "For the Rock!" cabaret Tuesday.

Penny added that Playhouse organizers feel blessed by the community support and outreach, but it's important to remember that the $250,000 fundraising goal for the end of the year is just a stopgap.

"If we are able to reach the $250,000 goal, it will allow us to move into 2013," Penny said. "However, our goal is to fix the cash flow problem permanently, and over time eliminate our debts and have a significant reserve so we can have a solid foundation."

She added that it's also necessary that the Playhouse reach its goals for ticket sales for its 2012 seasonal productions of "A Celtic Christmas" and "The Nutcracker" and for 2013 season ticket sales.

Special performances

On Thursday, Lauderdale, a two-time Grammy Award winner, will take the stage at the Youth Activity Building at Bonclarken in Flat Rock. All proceeds will go toward the Save the Playhouse campaign.

"He's absolute magic," said Neela Munoz, who will emcee the event. "He has many memories of working at the Playhouse as a young man."

She loves the story of a summer when Leona Farquhar, wife of Playhouse founder Robroy Farquhar, hired the teenage Lauderdale to cut the grass at the theater.

As long as Leona could hear the mower going, she knew Lauderdale was hard at work, but once when she checked on his progress she discovered the mower propped on a bush while Lauderdale practiced banjo under a tree. Now, after 20 albums recorded, he's no longer the kid working the snack bar or doing landscaping on the theater campus.

Lauderdale, who is on Nashville, Tenn.'s A-list of songwriters, credits Ralph Stanley and George Jones as musical influences. In 2001, he was invited to play Jones in the Playhouse's production of "Stand by Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story."

"It was like a dream come true, to be on stage," Lauderdale said. "It was meaningful to me."

He added that he always enjoys coming to Flat Rock and can't imagine life without the theater.

"I'm very moved by the way people in the community are coming together to help out the Playhouse," Lauderdale said. "Any excuse I have, I come to the area, and this makes it extra meaningful. I'll be inspired by the people who come out to support the Playhouse."

The "For the Rock!" cabaret event Tuesday will feature a gathering of old and new performers singing, acting and dancing on the main stage in an evening of fun and celebration of the State Theatre of North Carolina.

Similar events will take place Friday at Elon University in Elon and Dec. 17 in New York, said Bill Munoz, Flat Rock Playhouse production manager.

"The (New York event) seems to be getting quite a lineup," he said. "It will be exciting to see how it turns out."

Playhouse scenic artist Katie Mooney said she's confident the Elon event is going to go "very well." The event at the liberal arts university will feature Playhouse apprentices, an auction and a few testimonials from former students who have worked at the Playhouse.

"For the Rock!" on Tuesday will feature its own string of talent, including a house band that includes George Wilkins, Charles Holland, Bill Altman and Paul Babley.

Some items for the evening's planned auction and raffle include a dinner party for eight cooked by Preston Dyar; a headshot by Scott Treadway; a special weekend package at Biltmore Park; theater tickets to Peace Center; a season pass to Brevard Music Center; and gift certificates to area restaurants.

"Friends of the Playhouse and community donors have been so amazingly generous," said Mary Mowery, who is organizing auction and raffle items with Daniel Williams for the event.

A new online shop of keepsake ornaments and "For the Rock!" T-shirts are selling well, said Neela Munoz, adding that "many have been boasting and posting about it."

Bill Munoz is fired up about the popularity of the Facebook page, the brainchild of Mooney that now has more than 3,700 members.

"The outpouring of generosity is inspiring," Neela Munoz said of the donations coming in daily. "Families and friends of the Playhouse are making a difference."

<p>Energy created from the launch two weeks ago of the "Save the Playhouse!" Facebook page is still going strong, with donations pouring in and a series of fundraising events planned.</p><p>The biggest development in the recent campaign to keep the Flat Rock Playhouse solvent is a $100,000 donation that will act as a matching grant for donations made after Nov. 29.</p><p>"It is so reaffirming that what we do is valuable and necessary for this community, for this region, and for the arts at large," said Playhouse Development Director Lynn Penny. </p><p>The donation, from a longtime supporter who wishes to remain anonymous, is one of many gifts large and small received by the cash-strapped nonprofit theater organization in the past two weeks. </p><p>The campaign has now received close to $200,000. Fundraising concerts in Flat Rock will help add to that, and include a special show featuring performer and songwriter Jim Lauderdale on Thursday and then a "For the Rock!" cabaret Tuesday. </p><p>Penny added that Playhouse organizers feel blessed by the community support and outreach, but it's important to remember that the $250,000 fundraising goal for the end of the year is just a stopgap. </p><p>"If we are able to reach the $250,000 goal, it will allow us to move into 2013," Penny said. "However, our goal is to fix the cash flow problem permanently, and over time eliminate our debts and have a significant reserve so we can have a solid foundation."</p><p>She added that it's also necessary that the Playhouse reach its goals for ticket sales for its 2012 seasonal productions of "A Celtic Christmas" and "The Nutcracker" and for 2013 season ticket sales.</p><p>Special performances</p><p>On Thursday, Lauderdale, a two-time Grammy Award winner, will take the stage at the Youth Activity Building at Bonclarken in Flat Rock. All proceeds will go toward the Save the Playhouse campaign.</p><p>"He's absolute magic," said Neela Munoz, who will emcee the event. "He has many memories of working at the Playhouse as a young man."</p><p>She loves the story of a summer when Leona Farquhar, wife of Playhouse founder Robroy Farquhar, hired the teenage Lauderdale to cut the grass at the theater. </p><p>As long as Leona could hear the mower going, she knew Lauderdale was hard at work, but once when she checked on his progress she discovered the mower propped on a bush while Lauderdale practiced banjo under a tree. Now, after 20 albums recorded, he's no longer the kid working the snack bar or doing landscaping on the theater campus. </p><p>Lauderdale, who is on Nashville, Tenn.'s A-list of songwriters, credits Ralph Stanley and George Jones as musical influences. In 2001, he was invited to play Jones in the Playhouse's production of "Stand by Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story."</p><p>"It was like a dream come true, to be on stage," Lauderdale said. "It was meaningful to me."</p><p>He added that he always enjoys coming to Flat Rock and can't imagine life without the theater. </p><p>"I'm very moved by the way people in the community are coming together to help out the Playhouse," Lauderdale said. "Any excuse I have, I come to the area, and this makes it extra meaningful. I'll be inspired by the people who come out to support the Playhouse."</p><p>The "For the Rock!" cabaret event Tuesday will feature a gathering of old and new performers singing, acting and dancing on the main stage in an evening of fun and celebration of the State Theatre of North Carolina. </p><p>Similar events will take place Friday at Elon University in Elon and Dec. 17 in New York, said Bill Munoz, Flat Rock Playhouse production manager.</p><p>"The (New York event) seems to be getting quite a lineup," he said. "It will be exciting to see how it turns out."</p><p>Playhouse scenic artist Katie Mooney said she's confident the Elon event is going to go "very well." The event at the liberal arts university will feature Playhouse apprentices, an auction and a few testimonials from former students who have worked at the Playhouse. </p><p>"For the Rock!" on Tuesday will feature its own string of talent, including a house band that includes George Wilkins, Charles Holland, Bill Altman and Paul Babley. </p><p>"We have multiple singers, scenes and secrets," Bill Munoz said. </p><p>Paige Posey, Scott Treadway, Linda Edwards, Erin Mosher, Wendy Jones Hayes, Katie Mooney, Guy LeMonnier, Renee Heffel, Lauren Rogers Hopkins, Charles Flynn McIver, Duke Domingue, Ralph Redpath and many others will be on stage for the special benefit.</p><p>Some items for the evening's planned auction and raffle include a dinner party for eight cooked by Preston Dyar; a headshot by Scott Treadway; a special weekend package at Biltmore Park; theater tickets to Peace Center; a season pass to Brevard Music Center; and gift certificates to area restaurants.</p><p>"Friends of the Playhouse and community donors have been so amazingly generous," said Mary Mowery, who is organizing auction and raffle items with Daniel Williams for the event.</p><p>A new online shop of keepsake ornaments and "For the Rock!" T-shirts are selling well, said Neela Munoz, adding that "many have been boasting and posting about it."</p><p>Bill Munoz is fired up about the popularity of the Facebook page, the brainchild of Mooney that now has more than 3,700 members.</p><p>"The outpouring of generosity is inspiring," Neela Munoz said of the donations coming in daily. "Families and friends of the Playhouse are making a difference."</p>